Axle.



"No. 879,327. PATENTED FEB.'1 8, 1908.

F. SGANLAN. AXLE.

APPLICATION FILED BE1T.3, 1907.

' 1n: curls PETERS cm, \IIASNINGRIN, B4 c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AXLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. s,19os.

Application filed September 3. 1907. Serial No. 391.218.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK SOANLAN, of the city of Brantford, in thecounty of Brant, in the Province of Ontario, Canada, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Axles; and I hereby declare thatthe following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inaxle-nuts, whereby the wheel hub is revolubly locked on the axle withoutscrew threading the axle arm or axle nut. Ordinarily the extremity ofthe axle arm is screw threaded to receive a correspondingly threadednut, but it has been proved in the actual use of this construction thatthe axle nut frequently becomes unscrewed from the axle arm andaccidents result which otherwise would not have occured.

The object of the present invention is to provide the axle arm and theaxle nut with a locking device which will securely hold the nut in placewhen fitted thereon, and this object is attained by the constructionhereinafter set forth.

In carrying out the invention, the extremity of the axle arm is formedof an elliptical shape, with an. annular recess therein. A non-revolublewasher, having a bore of corresponding shape and dimensions is fitted onthe elliptically shaped part of the axle arm to abut against theshoulder formed at the junction of the elliptically shaped part and thehub seat of the axle arm. The axle nut has a central bore with that partadjacent to the inner side face of the nut, of the same shape as theelliptical part of the axle arm, and the inner part of the bore of anannular shape of slightly reater diameter than the major axis of the elipse to form inwardly extending projections which engage in the annularrecess.

The axle nut'is provided with a spring pressed bolt and the washer isformed with a liolt aperture to receive the spring pressed bo t.

For an understanding of the invention reference is to be had to thefollowing description and the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1,shows the axle arm, nut, and washer in longitudinal section, and, Fig.2, is an end view of the extremity of the axle arm showing the washerand axle nut removed.

Like characters of reference refer to like parts throughout thespecification and draw- 1n At the end of the hub seat 1 of the axle arm1 is an axle projection 2, of smaller diameter than the hub seat, and inthe axle projection is formed an annular recess 3. The sides of the axleprojection are flattened as indicated at 4 to give it a substantiallyelliptical shape, and the annular recess at the flattened sides is flushwith the surface of the projection. A washer 6, provided with a bore 7,correspondingly shaped is placed on the axle projection 2, theengagement of the flattened sides of the washer bore 7, with theflattened sides of the projection preventing the washer from turning onthe axle projection. The axle nut 8, is provided with a bore 9, and inthe bore adjacent to the washer 6, are flanges 10, registering with therecess 3. When the nut is bein fitted on the axle arm the flanges 10,pass along the flattened sides of the axle projection 2, and when thenut is turned less than a semi-revolution they enter the annular recess3, and engage behind the sides thereof, so that the nut will thereby besecured against displacement from the axle arm. The axle nut isprevented from turning on the axle projection by a locking bolt 16,which enters a bolt aperture 19 in the washer 6. As shown in thedrawings the inner face of the nut 8, is formed with a flange 5, toenter a corresponding recess 11, in the washer 6, but this flange andrecess may be dispensed with if desired.

The construction of the locking device is as follows :A tubular recess14, having a reduced end 15, is formed through the axle nut 8, and inthis recess is contained a looking bolt 16, which has an enlarged part17, a spring 18 being placed between the enlarged part 17, and theshoulder formed by the reduced end 15. The bolt aperture 19, is formedin the washer 6, to register with the recess 14, of the axle nut 8, whenthe latter has been turned to cause the projections 10 to engage in therecess 3 of the axle projection 2. The locking bolt 16, extends beyondthe outer face of the nut 8, and may be provided with a knob or handle20.

In assembling the parts, the wheel hub is placed on the hub seat of theaxle arm, the washer 6, is then placed in position, and lastly the axlenut 8, is passed on the axle projection until its flanges 10 registerwith the annular recess 3. The axle nut is then turned until itsfla'ng'es 10, enter the recess 3,

and the locking bolt 16, which is pressed downward by the spring 18,enters the bolt aperture 19. To detach the wheel from the axle it isonly necessary to withdraw the locking bolt from the bolt aperture19,and turn the axle nut until its flanges 10 come into alinement with theflat part of the axle projection when all the parts may be removed.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is 1. The hereinbefore describedconstruction comprising an axle arm having a hub seat, and anaxleprojection having flattened sides, and a recess between its endsflush with the axle projection at the flattened sides thereof, a Washerhaving a bore of corresponding shape to, and fitting on, that part ofthe axle projection adjacent to the outer end of the hub seat, an axlenut having a central aperture with side flanges extending inwardlywithin the aperture to pass over the flattened sides of the axleprojection and engage in the recess, and releasable means car ried bythe axle nut and engaging with the washer to prevent rotation of theaxle nut on the axle projection.

- 2. The hereinbefore described construction comprising an axle armhaving a hub seat, an axle projection, with flattened sides, and arecess between its ends flush with the axle projection at the flattenedsides thereof, a washer having a central aperture of corresponding shapeto, and fitting the axle projection and an annular peripheral flangeextending from its outer face, an axle nut having a disk shapedprojection on its inner face and having a central aperture, with sideflanges extending inwardly within the aperture to pass over theflattened sides of the axle projection and engage inthe recess, the diskshaped projection of the axle nut engaging the outer face of the washerwithin the annular flange, and releasable means for preventing rotationof the axle nut on the axle projection.

3. The hereinbefore described construction comprising an axle arm havinga hub erase? seat, an axle projection, with flattened sides, and arecess between its ends flush with the axle projection at the flattenedsides thereof, a washer, having a central aperture of correspondingshape to the axle projection and having a bolt hole in its outersurface, fitting on that part of the axle projection adjacent to theouter end of the hub seat, an axle nut having a central aperture ofslightly greater diameter than the greatest width of the axle projectionwith side flanges extending in wardly within the aperture to pass overthe flattened sides of the axle projection and engage in the recess, theaxle nut having a bolt hole with a reduced outer end formed therethroughat such a position as to register with the bolt hole of the washer whenthe axle nut is in its turned position in the recess, and a manuallyoperable spring bolt contained in the bolt hole of the axle nut andengaging the bolt hole of the washer for preventing rotation of the axlenut on the axle projection.

4. The hereinbefore described construction comprising an axle arm havinga hub seat and an axle projection, at its outer end beyond the hub seat,the axle projection be ing of elliptical shape in cross section andhaving a substantially annular recess between its ends flush with theaxle projection at the minor axis of the same, a washer having a centralaperture of corresponding shape to and fitted on the axle projectionadjacent to the hub seat, an axle nut having a central aperture of adiameter slightly greater than the length of the major axis of the axleprojection, with flanges extending inwardly within the aperture to passover the outer end of the axle projection and engage in the recess theinner face of the axle nut engaging the outer face of the washer, andmeans carried by the axle nut and engaging with the washer to preventrotation of theaxle nut relatively to the axle projection.

Brantford, August 5th, A. D. 1907.

FRANK SCANLAN.

Signed in the presence of W. S. BREWSTER, CHARLES KAY.

